BOA Digital - The Digital Download - Autumn 2025

the digital download featuring...

ROUND UP OF DR. MORRIS’ FIRST TERM LEVEL UP - OUR NEW RETRO ARCADE! OUR BRAND-NEW FREE BREAKFAST CLUB FUNDRAISING, SPORTS ROUND-UP’S & MORE

A message from our Principal

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Dear Students, Families and Colleagues, As we reach the end of our first autumn term at BOA Digital Technologies Academy, it is clear how much we have achieved together in such a short time. This term has been defined by creativity, community and ambition – the values at the heart of our academy. Here, you don’t just learn about the future; you begin inventing it.

We introduced our revised Teaching Model to strengthen how we explain, question, practise, assess and support learning. Additional English and Maths intervention for Year 10, alongside our revised behaviour policy and the launch of Class Charts, has already helped create calmer corridors, smoother transitions and a more purposeful learning climate.

Significant IT investment has expanded learning opportunities. New VR headsets have opened doors to immersive experiences, while our retro arcade has quickly become a popular space where computing history meets lunchtime fun. We launched our BOA Bytes newsletter, added two new laptop trolleys, expanded wi-fi provision, and have further exciting digital developments planned.

Our industry links continue to grow. We explored collaboration with Birmingham City University for CISCO training, strengthened our partnership with Birmingham Open Media, co-developed a Year 8 curriculum project with Steamhouse linked to HS2, and delivered a CyberFirst Masterclass thanks to Ms McKenzie-Pusey.

I have been delighted to welcome new colleagues, including Ms Benton and Ms Bagley, and to celebrate internal promotions: Ms Whittaker (Head of Creative), Ms Thorne (Head of Humanities), and Ms Storey, who joins us in January as Product Design teacher and Leader for Years 7 and 8.

Student life has flourished through free breakfasts, extended supervision, Black History Month, the European Day of Languages, enriching trips, expanded clubs, and a wonderful Christmas Concert led by Mr France.

I am incredibly proud of our students, staff and families. Together, we have laid strong foundations for the year ahead.

DR MORRIS

Principal of BOA Digital Technologies Academy

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level up at lunch!

This term we launched our brand-new retro arcade has landed in the ground floor canteen! Packed with classic games and nostalgic fun, it’s the perfect spot for students to unwind, connect, and enjoy some friendly competition over breakfast or lunch.

Whether you’re chasing high scores or just taking a well-earned break, the BOA Digital arcade is ready — press start and play!

At BOA Digital, we know that a good start to the day makes all the difference. That’s why we’re delighted to provide our students with a free breakfast every morning.

From 8.30am to 8.50am, all students can enjoy toast and a hot chocolate before lessons begin — completely free of charge.

It’s a simple way to fuel up, warm up, and make sure everyone is ready to learn.

We’re proud to support our students’ wellbeing and education by ensuring they begin each day with the energy they need to succeed.

trip to cinderella this christmas!

In November, we took our Year 7 students on an exciting trip to The Old Rep Theatre to watch the pantomime Cinderella. From the moment the curtain went up, they were fully immersed in the performance — and they were still singing the songs all the way back to the academy!

It was a fantastic opportunity for our students to experience live theatre, and who knows — perhaps BOA Group has inspired some performers of tomorrow.

free breakfast for all students This term, our GCSE Photography students were busy completing their first ever photoshoots.

They explored composition and captured their immediate surroundings.

They producted some fantastic shots while showing real professionalism on set.

We’re excited to see how their skills - and their portfolios - continue to grow!

students complete first photoshoot!

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2025 christmas concert We’re so proud to share that this year’s BOA Digital Christmas Concert was truly magical.

Our students filled the academy with festive cheer through their creativity, talent, and hard work — and they shone on stage from start to finish.

A massive thank you to everyone who came along to support, and an even bigger thanks to the incredible students who took part. Your dedication made the evening unforgettable.

Here’s to a wonderful end to the year at BOA Digital!

meet our new prefects Our new prefects have settled into their roles brilliantly, already making a positive impact around the school. Their maturity, responsibility, and willingness to lead by example have not gone unnoticed — staff are impressed by their enthusiasm and professionalism. These students are quickly becoming strong role models within our school community.

Congratulations to our prefects: Sandro L, Tendi H, Sophie C, Ava J, Isabella W, Rocco R, Michaela T, Amaru A, Faith-Rose F, Anas A, and Kaelan M. We can’t wait to see all the amazing things you’ll achieve!

Huge Congratulations to Mercy in Year 7 who won the BOA-wide Cinderella Art Competition! Students from across all BOA schools were challenged to design a Brummie-inspired Cinderella castle, and Mercy’s creativity shone the brightest.

Her winning artwork is now featured in the official show programme at The Old Rep — and as part of her prize, she’s also received a family ticket to see the Cinderella production this Christmas!

our Cinderella competition winner

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digital round up birmingham open media Throughout the term, learners have taken part in online Cyber Security sessions led by industry professionals from the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC).

Students in 9.1 and 9.2 have also been working with Birmingham Open Media to create 3D virtual galleries. Selected learners’ work will be showcased at an exhibition in February and uploaded to VR headsets for the public to explore.

As part of the project and Black History Month, students attended an inspiring talk by renowned curator Candice Nembhard, gaining valuable insight into creative careers and the gallery world.

fun fact By 2026, it’s predicted that over 80% of students worldwide will use AI-powered tools to support learning, creativity, and problem-solving — making classrooms more digital than ever!

BOA Digital is now part of the Jaguar Land Rover Schools Partnership Programme. We look forward to completing our first workshop with them in January 2026 which will include production and engineering.

Jaguar Land Rover Schools Partnership Programme West Midlands Cyber Hub Pre-Launch Consultation In November the Head of Digital attended the West Midlands Cyber Hub Launch. The Cyber Hub is an exciting new space for our regions cyber community and as a Digital School we are excited about the potential opportunities and partnership having a hub like this right on our doorstep.

On Tuesday 4th November, 26 Year 8 girls attended the CyberFirst MEGA Event at the BT Group building, Three Snowhill. They took part in hands-on workshops exploring AI, coding, and robotics, delivered by organisations including IBM, BT, and the West Midlands Police Cyber Unit.

The girls had a fantastic day and were so inspired that many have asked to enter the CyberFirst Girls Competition later this year.

Year 8 CyberFirst MEGA Event

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the big sleep out 2025!

In December, BOA Digital Technologies braved the cold for an incredible cause!

Our staff and students took part in the Big Sleep Out for St Basils Charity at Millennium Point.

Armed with cardboard boxes and plastic sheeting, we built our shelters and spent the night raising awareness for youth homelessness.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part — it was tough, but so much fun! We raised an incredible £880.00, thank you to everyone who donated!

our new language ambassadors We are thrilled to announce our brandnew Language Ambassadors from Year 10!

Daniel H – Language Ambassador Oliver S – Vice Language Ambassador These talented students will be proudly representing all things languages at BOA Digital, inspiring their peers and celebrating the power of communication across the globe.

On 11th November, our academy gathered together in a moment of reflection for Remembrance Day. At 11am, students and staff observed a twominute silence to honour those who have served and sacrificed. The Last Post was beautifully performed by Year 10 student Dylan, creating a powerful and respectful atmosphere.

We are proud of how our students conducted themselves during this important moment of remembrance.

remembrance day 2025

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children in need 2025!

Our academy has been proudly raising money and awareness for Children in Need!

Students and staff got involved in a range of fun and meaningful activities to make a real difference.

Staff Fancy Dress – Our teachers brought laughter and colour to the week while donating to the cause.

25km Challenge – BOA Digital set an ambitious target of 400km for the week, with every student and staff member encouraged to complete 1km.

Soak the Teacher – Students had the chance to throw wet sponges at staff for just 50p — a hugely popular fundraiser!

Wear Your Own Footwear Friday – Students rocked their favourite shoes today for a £1 donation.

We’ve had an amazing week supporting such an important cause. Thank you to everyone who took part.

english department launch brand-new word of the week This term we introduced Word of the Week to strengthen students’ vocabulary and confidence in using ambitious language from a variety of subjects. Each week a new word is explored through discussion and activities within Form, helping students apply it across their reading and writing.

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sports round up year 9 boys football tournament Our Year 9 boys showed incredible spirit at October’s eight-team football tournament!

They topped their group, won a nail-biting semi-final on penalties thanks to a heroic save and finish from Ethan H., and gave it their all in a hard-fought final.

A huge well done to the team for their skill, sportsmanship, and teamwork – you made us proud!

Player of the Tournament: Ethan H

In October, our Year 7 & 8 girls took part in an inspiring day at the Doug Ellis Centre, where teamwork was at the heart of every challenge.

Throughout the day, they worked together on three different activities — each one designed to strengthen communication, problem-solving, and collaboration. From mastering verbal and non-verbal communication to tackling team-based challenges, they showed incredible focus, encouragement, and unity.

A huge well done to our fantastic students Laaibah H, Muskan, Laaibah S, Bisma, Opalina, Evie, Eliza, Catherine, Emily, and Liz.

teamwork in action!

Our Year 9 team continued their fantastic run with a strong 2– 0 win against Ark St Albans. Geoffrey opened the scoring after early pressure, before Khaaliq sealed the victory. Ethan was outstanding in goal, making key saves to secure the clean sheet.

A composed, unbeaten performance and exemplary conduct!

year 9 boys football: unbeaten!

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year 8 get creative in art Our Year 8 pupils kicked off this year’s Reframe: Inspire project with an amazing zine workshop led by artist Alima at the Mac Birmingham! They also explored Hardeep Pandhal’s exhibition, ‘Saag and Fish Fingers’, which runs until February 2026.

The students dived into the creative challenges with enthusiasm, producing imaginative and thoughtful work that impressed everyone.

Their creativity and engagement truly made them shine!

CyberFirst Bronze Award Presentation We are proud to share that BOA Digital Technologies Academy has officially been recognised as a CyberFirst Bronze School by the National Cyber Security Centre and IN4 Group!

This national recognition celebrates our commitment to delivering high-quality cyber education and inspiring the next generation of digital talent.

On Wednesday 10th September, our Digital and I.T. Department – including Ms McKenziePusey (Head of Digital), Mr Williams (Computer Science Teacher), and Mr Farrell (I.T. Support Technician) – attended the Award Presentation Ceremony to collect the award on behalf of the Academy.

This achievement reflects the hard work and dedication of all our staff, who continually embed cyber computing into our digital curriculum. At BOA Digital, our mission is to empower learners with real-world skills so they are ready to thrive in the ever-evolving digital and tech industries.

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Exploring Maths & Physics with STEM Experts In October, our students dived into the exciting worlds of maths and physics through interactive Zoom sessions.

“Infinity War: Maths vs Physics” with Nira Chamberlain and Mark Richards “Will my computer survive without maths?” with Herbert Daly The sessions sparked curiosity, demonstrated the real-world power of numbers, and tied in with Black History Month by highlighting inspiring figures in STEM. Students left full of ideas, questions, and inspiration for their own learning!

praise point winners Over the term, we’ve been celebrating our Praise Point winners from Years 7 & 8 for their hard work, dedication, and positive attitude.

As a special treat, our winners recently enjoyed some wellearned free time, complete with cookies and milkshakes!

Year 10 students have been given access to Digital Theatre, allowing them to watch high-quality productions that support their GCSE texts.

This resource has enriched their understanding of character, staging, and thematic interpretation.

Students have enjoyed seeing the plays come to life beyond the page.

Year 10 – Digital Theatre Access

Keep up the amazing effort, everyone — this will be a weekly celebration, so keep working hard and you could be joining the winners next week!

fun fact Over 6.7 billion peple worldwide have now connected to the internet, making digital technology more central than ever to learning, work and daily life!

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sports round up year 7 boys football

year 7 girls football

Since September, our Year 7 boys have taken part in two competitive fixtures alongside regular Thursday after-school training sessions.

Although results didn’t go our way, the team showed fantastic resilience, effort, and clear improvement in both matches.

On 18th November, our Year 7 and 8 girls played their first football fixture of the year away at Ark St Albans. Despite early nerves, the girls showed great courage, teamwork, and determination throughout the match.

In their first-ever match against a strong Holy Trinity side, the boys battled hard and created chances, with Khemeiko C scoring BOA’s first goal in a narrow 3–1 defeat. In their second fixture, a cup game against Moseley School, the team showed real progress in both attack and defence, despite eventually losing 5–0 against tough opposition.

A special shoutout to Hassan A, Hassane C, and Zechariah B for their outstanding resilience and determination across both games. A great foundation to build on as the season continues!

A special mention goes to Bella Rose J for stepping up as goalkeeper and making several excellent saves, and to Bobbie-Beau O, who scored twice and helped lift the team’s confidence.

Although the match ended in defeat, the girls never gave up and should be proud of their efforts.

year 9 girls football Our Year 9 girls also faced Ark St Albans in their first fixture of the season, showing strong skill and organisation early on. Eva M impressed in goal with multiple saves, while Florrie W and Sapphire S led a resilient defence.

Despite a positive team spirit and continued effort after half-time, Ark St Albans eventually took control of the game.

A strong learning experience to build on for the season.

Children in Need PE Challenge During Children in Need week, PE groups ran 1km each to raise awareness, with staff joining in too. Together, 306km was completed!

Special shoutout to Miss Chapman, and Mr Carter for their motivation and effort.

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stranger things sagas: a writing competition Students across the Academy took part in the Stranger Sagas writing competition, crafting imaginative mini-stories inspired by mysterious prompts. The competition was a fantastic opportunity for pupils to showcase their creativity and practise concise, engaging storytelling. We are incredibly proud of the effort and originality shown by all who entered.

A huge thank you to all the parents and carers who joined us for our BOA Digital Open Evening last night.

It was a fantastic event, full of energy, creativity, and enthusiasm!

Encouraging Families to Join Birmingham Library This term we promoted the benefits of joining Birmingham Library to all our families, emphasising the wealth of free books and resources available. By encouraging regular library use, we aim to nurture a culture of reading beyond the classroom. Many students have already begun exploring new authors and genres as a result.

We hope everyone enjoyed exploring the academy, meeting our staff and students, and getting a real insight into life at BOA Digital.

From interactive demonstrations to seeing our students’ incredible work across subjects, the evening was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all that our academy has to offer.

open event success

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humanities highlights This term, Key Stage 3 have been enjoying our new History, Geography, and RE curriculum, exploring topics like the AngloSaxons, city challenges, and ethics.

Next term, each year group will research a famous Spanish festival, sharing their findings with peers. These projects will be displayed in the MFL classroom and featured in future newsletters.

Pupils have also been completing assessments across Years 7–10, showing great effort and achievement. Well done to everyone for their hard work!

exploring colour theory Our Year 7 and 8 students have been getting creative in their Art lessons, exploring the exciting world of colour theory.

They’ve been experimenting with different colour combinations, understanding how colours interact, and developing their own artistic pieces that demonstrate their growing knowledge and skill. The results are vibrant, thoughtful, and showcase the creativity and dedication of our students.

Well done to all students involved — your hard work and imagination continue to impress!

exciting new maths support The Maths Department at BOA Digital is excited to announce that all students from Year 7 to Year 10 now have access to EEDI, an interactive platform to help resolve misconceptions and strengthen understanding in Maths.

EEDI offers diagnostic questions, recall quizzes, and personalised online support from dedicated tutors. Using the platform at home allows students to tackle areas of difficulty and build confidence in their Maths skills.

Parents and guardians can link their email to monitor progress and celebrate their child’s achievements.

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digital round up

Year 9 - Siemens Railway Safety & Employability Workshops On Wednesday 5th November year 9 took part in a railway safety and employability workshop delivered by Siemens. The workshop taught learners about the potential danger when using the railway.

Learners then had the opportunity to hear about the different careers and work experience opportunities available with Siemens.

Earlier this month BOA Digital was awarded CISCO Academy status. This means learners will get the opportunity to complete a range of short courses in Cybersecurity, Data, Coding and Networking to name a few.

All course will be industry recognised, so learners can add these to their Digital Portfolio and CV's.

CISCO Academy Status next term - idea & idm skills build

Year 9 have been exploring coding, AI, and robotics using Micro:bits, and will next programme robotic cars and mBots.

This term learners have been registered to the iDEA Awards and the IBM Skills Build courses. From next term learners will work through these short course and gain industry recognised certificates in all areas of Digital.

Year 8 are working on the HS2 Legacy Project, exploring the new train’s impact and developing digital skills like photography, video editing, journalism, and coding.

Year 7 have been creating WIX digital portfolios to showcase their tech projects and build skills for future digital careers.

Tech Projects This autumn Term

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black history month - standing firm in power and pride At BOA Digital, our learners are exploring this theme through a range of exciting Digital projects in their Technology Project lessons, focusing on key Black figures in Cyber, Tech, and the Creative Industries.

This week, learners have been engaging with the song “Black is Beautiful” by reggae artist Chronixx as part of their exploration of the theme.

Here’s what our learners are working on: Year 7: Creating interactive quizzes using Black-inspired programming themes.

Year 8: Producing VOX pop videos, interviewing each other on the questions: “What does Black History Month mean to you?” and “Why is it important we celebrate Black History Month?”

Year 9: Developing Horrible Histories-style documentaries on chosen figures from the Cyber, Tech, or Creative Industries.

Year 9/Tp1 have been working with Birmingham Open Media to create their own Virtual Galleries in Blender, choosing themes linked to famous Black figures in their chosen fields.

Selected learners will have the opportunity to showcase their galleries at Birmingham Open Media’s showcase event in January.

Learners had the privilege of attending a talk with Candice Nembhard, a renowned curator originally from Handsworth, Birmingham, who has curated works across the UK, Europe, and worldwide. Candice shared valuable insights into the role of a curator and inspired students on how the skills they are developing can be applied in the creative industry.

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science highlights The Science Department has welcomed Miss Sana (Teacher of Science) and Mrs Anand (Science Technician) to the team.

Students have been enjoying hands-on practical lessons, exploring topics such as metal reactivity, cell structure, and building circuits. Practical work has brought the curriculum to life and has featured on our social media channels.

Being a specialist digital school, students are also using Seneca to support assessment preparation and independent study. It’s accessible anytime at www.senecalearning.com with school email and password seneca2020.

Our digital science equipment is helping students take learning further: Year 7: Observing cheek cells Year 8: Testing pH of everyday solutions Year 9: Measuring temperature changes in chemical reactions We’re also looking forward to British Science Week (6 – 15 March 2026), celebrating STEM with this year’s theme: “Curiosity: What’s your question?”

year 7 families, Thank you!

A huge thank you to all the parents and guardians who joined us for our Year 7 Meet the Tutor Evening yesterday. It was wonderful to welcome you into the academy and share more about how we’ll be supporting your child on their journey at BOA Digital.

fun fact Did you know that over 1.2 billion new apps were downloaded worldwide in 2025 alone?

vr sets arrive!

We’re thrilled to announce that 30 new ClassVR sets have arrived at the academy! Designed with comfort and performance in mind, these headsets feature advanced tracking, intuitive controllers, and a flip visor for easy transitions between immersive learning and the classroom.

More than just technology, the VR sets bring exciting, hands-on experiences across subjects, inspiring curiosity and boosting confidence.

That’s a lot of screens, creativity, and digital learning happening every day!

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sports round up year 7 & 8 boys basketball triumph!

On 4th November, our Year 7 and 8 boys competed in an exciting basketball fixture against Ark St Albans. Both teams showed incredible courage, skill, and teamwork, moving impressively around the court and demonstrating the progress they’ve made in their basketball abilities.

BOA dominated the matches, winning 34-11 and 27-16, with every player contributing — whether scoring, defending, or assisting their teammates. The games were a fantastic display of determination and resilience from all students.

A big thank you to Mr Farrell, who has been helping the boys develop their confidence and skills during lunch-time sessions, and to Mr Corrigan for supporting on the day.

Special congratulations to Nathaniel R, who was awarded Most Valuable Player!

Well done to all involved — an outstanding performance and a great example of teamwork and dedication!

Our Year 10 boys took part in their first football tournament of the year, competing against schools from across East Birmingham. Despite not having played together since last year, they showed determination, teamwork, and great sportsmanship, finishing with one win, one loss, and three draws.

A fantastic start to the season and a strong foundation for the months ahead!

Year 10 Boys - East Birmingham Tournament fun fact Over 50 million people are using wearable tech in 2025 to track their performance in sports — helping athletes train smarter, track stats, and push their limits!

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End of Term Rewards Day Before the term ended, students enjoyed an exciting rewards day with a giant inflatable course, bringing plenty of fun and laughter across the academy.

Students were invited to take part in recognition of their excellent attendance, positive behaviour throughout the Autumn term, or their outstanding commitment to student leadership in their roles as school prefects.

It was a brilliant way to celebrate hard work, dedication, and positive choices — well done to everyone involved!

Students in Maths have been exploring tessellations and coordinates, developing their problem-solving skills and applying mathematical concepts through creative and practical activities.

Maths in Action

fun fact In 2025, the average teenager spends over 7 hours a day using digital technology — from learning and creating content to gaming, connecting with friends, and exploring new skills online. This shows just how much digital tools are shaping the way young people learn, play, and prepare for the future.

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Year 7 & 8 E-commerce Tech Projects Go Live!

In the summer term of 2025, Year 7 and 8 students took part in a three-month technology project, creating fully functional e-commerce websites to showcase products they designed themselves.

Guided by David Brady from Silver Fox Studio, students worked in teams to source products, build databases, create a brand, and develop their own websites. Each team designed T-shirt and clothing ranges, then created Excel databases with product descriptions, images, colour and size options, part numbers, costs, and RRPs, using these to build their e-commerce sites with unique branding and imagery.

Over two weeks, six teams from each year group pitched their concepts, business plans, and websites to a panel of industry experts. The presentations demonstrated impressive creativity, business understanding, and technical skill. One panellist, a Birmingham University lecturer, highlighted the exceptionally high standard of several Year 8 presentations.

From the twelve teams, Young Stars (Year 7) and Lock’d (Year 8) were selected as winners.

Their websites have been made live, with Year 7’s site already available at https://www.boa-digitalproject1.co.uk, and Year 8’s coming in the new year.

We encourage parents and students to explore the sites and support our students by purchasing their designs. All proceeds will fund BOA Digital extracurricular activities.

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term dates for Spring 2026 Thursday 22nd January

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Year 10 Parents’ Evening

Monday 16th - Friday 20th February February Half Term Thursday 26th February

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Year 9 Options Evening

Thursday 26th March

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Year 10 Parents’ Evening

Friday 27th March Term Ends

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r e e d l n l a i C NTO OF TH ATEST PA EM A GRE LL! THE

SATURDAY 22 NOVEMBER - WEDNESDAY 31 DECEMBER 2025 Brum Hour

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